Valve mechanism



' i' 1,615,406 Jam 25 1927 J. R. REPLOGLE VALVE MECHANISM Filed May 2.1921 J7 (g1/wanton Patented Jan., 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,615,406 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. REPLOGLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COB-IPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

VALVE MECHANISM.

Application led May 2, 1921.

This invention relates in general to valve mechanism for controllin theflow of a Huid through a passage an more particularly to valves andvalve operating mechanism employed in mechanical refrigerators and thelike for automatically controlling the flow of a fluid intoa receptacle.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedvalve that does not require accurate aligning of the parts and hasassociated therewith improved means for automatically operating thesame.

4 Another object of the invention is the provision'of an improved valvewhereby a comparativel large passage for the'iuid may be employedy tothereby eliminate the danger of the passage becoming obstructed byimpurities contained in the fluid passing therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of valvemechanism that is Simple in construction, chea to manufacture, easilyassembled, not li ely to get out of order, and that will perform theadditional function of a safety valve.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear asthe description proceeds.

For convenience of illustration anddescription, the invention isdisclosed only in connection with the evaporator or vaporizer element ofa mechanical refrigerator a1- though it is understood that it is capableof use in other relations.- The 'vaporizer shown is of the character ofthat disclosed in my pendin applications Serial No. 448,331 tiledebruary 28, 1921, and Serial No. 475,344, iiled June 6, 1921, to whichreference may be had for the details of the refrigeration system, and inwhich are claimed the vaporizer features, as distin-` guished from thevalve mechanism, per se, herein claimed.

On the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vaporizer element, parts in section andparts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1, with parts modified;and

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modified form of the valve and parts of theoperating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

On Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the nu- Serial N0. 466,262.

meral 5 designates the vaporizer ywhich may be of any well knownconstruction. As shown, it consists of the header or expansion tank6,having the expansion coils or loops 7 associated therewith. Theseexpansion loops or coils may be immersed in a tank 8 containing a heatconducting medium which has a comparatively low freezing point, such ascalcium chloride. The tank 8 may be provided with recesses 9 for thereception of containers or trays 10 for containing substances to befrozen, as is common in such constructions.

The vaporizer is provided at any suitable place with an inlet and anoutlet passage arranged one above the other; and my improved valvemechanism is adapted to be associated with the lower or inlet passage.As shown, the header or expansion tank 6 is provided with the removablehead or end piece l1 having the upper and lower passages 12 and 13,respectively, therein. The head or end pieces 11 may be secured to theexpansion tank by any suitable means such as the bolts 14. Attached tothe head or end piece 11 and extending inwardly from the passage 12 isthe baiile pipe or tube. 15 which has a closed inner end, and isprovided with the horizontal opening 16 on its upper side. The bottom ofthis pipe or tube constitutes a battle to prevent liquld refrigerantfrom being thrown into the outlet passage by the ebullition of the same.

A pipe ortube, not shown, is adapted to connect the passage with the lowpressure side of the compressor. The lower assage 13 is adapted to beconnected with t e high ressure side of the operating mechanism y meansof a tube or pipe, not shown, which is adapted to be attached at one endto the condenser and at its other end to the pipe connector 19.

The end piece or head 11 is provided with an inwardly extendingprojection 17 having a passage 130 therein, which consists of the recess13 and a laterally extending aperture 18 on its lower side. The outerend of the passage 130 is screw-threaded for the reception of the screwthreads on the inner end of the connector. pipe 19. The inner end of thepipe connector 19 is provided with an internal annular shoulder 20against which is adapted to seat the outer end of a strainer 21 locatedin the recess 13". This strainer 21 is adapted to prevent the .impurties1n the refrigerant from passing lnto the aperture 18 and thusinterfering with the operation of the valve and the passage ofrefrigerant therethrough. The lower end of the aperture 18 is enlargedas at 18 to form a retaining wall for a ball valve 22 of any suitablematerial, such as Monel metal, which is adapted to seat against thelower end of the aperture 18 and is held in position by means of avalve, or ball-retaining spring 23 which is secured to the float lever24 by any suitable means suchas a bolt 25. It will be noted that theball valve does not require any accurate fitting or adjusting' of theparts to secure it in operative position on the device.

'Ihe operation of the valve 22 is controlled by means of a float 26which is pivotally connected at its central port-ion as at 27 to thefloat lever. By pivoting the elongated float at its central portion itwill always remain horizontal and consequently the flotation leveragewill remain comparatively constant.

The float 26 is preferably of metal and may consist of the cylindricalbody portion 28 and the curved or hemispherical end portions 29 and 30.The end portions are secured to the reduced ends of the bod portion inany suitable manner, as by sol ering.

The float lever consists of a member having arms or bifurcated portions31 and `32 between which the float 26 is pivoted. The other end of thefloat lever 24 is also bifurcated and is pivoted to the projection 17 onthe end piece 11, as at 33. The web 34 connecting the two bifurcations,arms, or sides of the float lever is provided with a depending portion35 at each side thereof for the reception of the ball 'retaining spring23 to prevent lateral movement of the same without interfering with itsflexing.

Means are provided for limiting the vertical movement of the float lever24. This means may consist in providing a horizontal slot 36 in theupwardly extending projection 37 of the float lever 24. at each sidethereof, thusforming the upper and lower shoulders 36a and 36",respectively. A pin 38 carried by the projection 17 is adapted to beengaged at its projecting ends by the upper and lower shoulders of theslots 36 to thus limit the vertical movement of the lever 24, In theoperation of the device, the liquid refrigerant entering through thepipe 19, recess 13 and aperture 18 will cause the float 26 to rise,which in turn will cause the spring 23 to seat the ball 22 in the outerend of the aperture 18 to close the same. When the valve 22 is closed,under normal conditions, the liquid refrigerant cannot pass through theaperture 18. If for any reason, however, the pressure in the compressor'should rise above a certain point, the spring 23 will permit dischargeof the refrigerant into the header or expansion tank to thus equalizethe pressure and thus eliminating the use of an additional safety valve.This is an importantfeature of my invention. As the float rises, theshoulder on the float lever 24 comes in contact with the pin 38 andlimits any further upward movement of the float 26 and consequentlylimits the tension that may be placed on the valve spring 23 so that thevalve 22 will be opened by excessive pressure under any and allconditions. It also prevents the float from coming in contact with theupper wall ofl the header, and thus eliminates all possible danger ofinjury to the same by such contact.

When the compressor begins to operate it .soon draws sucient vaporizedrefrigerant from ythe header' to lower the float and thus open the valve22. The float is limited in its downward movement by the shoulders onthe lever 24 coming in contact with the pin 38. The parts are soarranged that when the lever 24 is-at its lower limit the valve 22 willbe opened but will be heldfrom becoming 4displaced and will be held insuch proximity to its seat that any back pressure will seat the valveand retain the refrigerant in the header. This is an important featuresince it will permit the removal of the strainer for cleani, or anyother purpose, without danger o leakage of the refrlgerant through thevalve opening.

The valve is shown as being used in connection with that form ofrefrigerators in which the lubricant circulates with the refrigerant andin which the refrigerant is heavier than the lubricant. In order thatthe controlling mechanism for the valve shall function properly, it isnecessary that the float be so calibrated that it will floatapproximately at the intersection of the oil and refrigerant. The oilbeing lighter than the refrigerant will, at intervals, overflow the endof the bafe pipe or plate 15 and assing down through the opening 16 willd its way back to the crank case and..

compressor.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified form 15 of the baille pi e or plate 15. Inthis form l of the device t e pipe extends at an angle inwardly andupwardly. This'arrangement provides a greater space for the o eration ofthe float. The pipe 15a is provi ed with apertures 39 through which theoil may pass from the header into the passage 12. v

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of the valve and s rings associatedtherewith. In this form o the device, aperturelS is-provided with avalve seat 40 of any suitable material such as Monel metal. A lightspring 41 tends to hold the valve 22 against its seat at all times. Thespring 23 carried by the lever 24 performs substantially the samefunction as the corresponding spring 23 in Fig. 2. The light springpermits the refrigerant to ass the valve 22 when the float is lowereseated under normal conditions so that the strainer 21v may be removedfor cleaning without danger of escape of the refrigerant from the headeror expansion tank.

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art and that various changes insize, shape and proportion and minor details of construction ma be madewithout `departing from the splrit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a member formed with a passage, avalve for controlling said passage, a bifurcated lever, anelongatedfloat pivotally connected at its central portion between thebifurcations of said lever, means for pivotally supporting said lever,stop means for limiting the movement of said lever and spring meanscarried by said lever for operating the valve, substantially as shownand described.

2. In a device of the class deseribed, a member provided with a passageadapted to connect the high and low pressure sides of a refrigerantsystem, a; valve for closing said passage, a float controlled lever,stops for limiting the'movement lof said lever, resilient meansassociated with said lever for closing said valve when the float ismoved in one direction, said parts being so constructed and arrangedthat when the valve is opened it will be held by the spring in suchproximity to its seat that back pressure from the low pressure side ofthe system will automatically close the same and that when the valve isclosed excessive pressure on the high pressure side of the system willautomatically 'open the same, substantially as shown and described. 3.In a device of the class described, a member provided with a passageadapted to connect the high and low pressure sides of a refrigerantsystem, a valve for closing said passage, a float controlled lever,stops for limiting the movement of said lever, resilient meansassociated with said lever for closing said valve when the float ismoved in one direction, said valve being free to rotate relative to saidlever, said parts being so constructed and arranged that when the valveis open it will be held in such proximity to its seat that back pressurefrom the low pressure side of the system will automatically close thesame, and that when 'the valve is closed excessive pressure on the highpressureA side of the System will automatically open the same,substantially as shown and described.

but maintains the valveA 4. In a device of the class described, a headfor an expansion tank, an inwardly extending projection carried by saidhead and provided with a passage therethrough, the inner end of saidpassage being enlarged to provide retaining walls, a ball valve forclosing said passage, a lever pivoted to said project-ion, a iloat foroperating said lever, a flat spring carried by said lever for engagingsaid ball to retain the same within said walls and for closing saidvalve, said spring permitting excessive pressure to open said valve, andstops for limiting the movement of said lever whereby the ball valve isretained in proximity to its seat to prevent back flow, substantially asshown and described.

5. In a device of the class described, a support formed with a passageand a valve seat, a valvearranged'to cooperate with said seat, abifurcated lever, an elongated lloat pivotally connected at its centralportion between the bifurcations of said lever, means for pivotallyconnecting said lever to said support, stop devices for limiting themovement of said lever, and means comprising a spring carried by saidlever for operating the valve.

6. In a device of the class described, a member provided with a passagefor the flow of fluid and a valve seat, a valve to control the flow offluid through said passage arranged to close against the flow, afloatactuated lever, a spring arranged to be moved by the lever andengaging the valve to move it towards its seat, and stop devicesassociated with said lever to limit the opening movement of the valveand maintain it at all times in sufficiently close proximity to its seatso that back pressure will automatically close it.

7. In a device of the class described, a member provided with a passagefor the flow of fluid and a valve seat, a valve to control the flow offluid through said passage arranged to close against the How, afloatactuated lever, a spring carried by said lever to engage the valveand move it towards its seat, and stop devices associated with saidlever to limit the opening movement of the valve and maintain it at alltimes in sufliciently close proximity to its seat so that back pressurewill automatically close it.

8. In a device of the class described, a. member formed with a passa-gefor the flow of fluid and a valve seat, a valve arranged to closeagainst the flow, a strainer in the passage on the inlet side of thevalve, and means comprising a float for actuating the valve and adaptedat all times to maintain it in sufficiently close proximity to the seatto insure its closure when pressure on its outlet side exceeds that onits inlet side, whereby the passage is automatically closed when it isdesired to remove the strainer.

9. In a device of the class described, a

member formed with a passage for the flow iciently close proximity toits seat to insure of iuid and -a valve seat, a valve arranged to itsclosure When pressure on its outlet side 10 close against the flow, astrainer in the pasexceeds that on its inlet side, whereby the sage onthe inlet side of the valve, and means passage is automatically closedwhen it is 5 comprising a fioat and a spring interposed desired toremove the strainer.

between the ioat and the valve for operating In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature. the valve, said operating means being adapted tomaintain the valve at all times in sufy JOHN R. REPLOGLE.

